Let the Shopping Begin ... Toys "R" Us Crowds Provide Insight to the Season's Best-Selling Toys From Coast-to-Coast Throngs of Shoppers Line Up Early to Find the Perfect Gift WAYNE, N.J., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Large and enthusiastic crowds of shoppers flocked to Toys "R" Us stores nationwide over the weekend, sparking the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Indications from these early and eager gift-seekers provided a hint to what's on kids' wish lists this year. Early risers began forming lines outside of Toys "R" Us stores across the country by 4 a.m. on Friday eagerly awaiting the doors to open. In Torrance, CA nearly 500 people gathered in the pre-dawn hours. The snow and cold didn't prevent the early arrival of more than 200 customers in Novi, MI. And, in New York City, hordes of shoppers lined-up on Broadway in the wee hours outside the company's international flagship store in Times Square. "Every holiday season there is much discussion about the one 'hot' toy," said John Barbour, President, Toys "R" Us, U.S. "In reality, the hottest toy is unique to every child. It is the special toy that puts the biggest smile on that child's face." Several items on the Toys "R" Us Joy list performed particularly well over the weekend. They include: -- Laugh & Learn(TM) Learning Home(TM) from Fisher-Price -- Operation(R): Shrek from Hasbro Games -- Plug It In & Play TV Game Systems -- Featuring Ms. Pac-Man from JAKKS Pacific In addition, a number of other items were best sellers over the three-day period, including: -- Dora the Explorer(TM) Magic Hair(TM) Fairytale Dora from Fisher-Price -- Hokey Pokey Elmo from Fisher-Price -- Polly Pocket(TM) Relaxin Resort(TM) Rock 'N Roller Coaster Hotel from Mattel -- RC Ford F-350 from Fast Lane Listed below are product descriptions for each of the weekend's best selling toys: DORA THE EXPLORER(TM) Magic Hair(TM) Fairytale Dora from Fisher-Price Dora's hair magically grows with the wave of a wand. Her jewel-lit hat lights up as Dora sings and speaks in English and Spanish. Style Dora's hair with her brush and barrettes, transforming her into a true princess! Requires 4 AA batteries (included). Ages 3 years and up. Hokey Pokey Elmo from Fisher-Price Elmo does the Hokey Pokey with this Toys "R" Us exclusive. Elmo puts his hand in; he puts his hand out ... he puts his foot in; he puts his foot out ... dancing in a full range of circles and shakes. Requires 4 AA batteries (included). Ages 18 months and up. LAUGH & LEARN(TM) LEARNING HOME(TM) from Fisher-Price It's a place that's full of fun, and provides great ways for baby to learn-from A-B-C's and 1-2-3's to fascinating everyday experiences, with musical inspiration, sing-along songs, and plenty of discoveries. Both sides of the home are loaded with activities, music, speech, and sounds. Teaches: letters, numbers, counting, shapes, opposites, colors, greetings and more. Two interactive play modes-learning time includes: learning the alphabet with the sing-along radio; dropping balls in rainspout for counting fun; sorting shapes and learning colors-music time includes: sing along with 21 delightful songs, such as the Welcome Home song, Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Doggy in the Window, Hickory Dickory Dock and more. 25+ fun sounds and encouraging phrases with activities. 3 C batteries required (not included). Ages 6 months to 3 years. OPERATION(R): SHREK from Hasbro Games This time the patient happens to be everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek. Major medical assistance is needed to cure his ailments including: Ear Wax, Onion Breath, and Humongous Fungus. Game play remains the same as the traditional Operation(R), where the player who collects the most money from successful operations wins. For 2 to 4 players. Requires 2 AA batteries (not included). Ages 6 and up. PLUG IT IN & PLAY TV GAME SYSTEMS -- FEATURING MS. PAC-MAN from JAKKS Pacific There's a complete line-up of TV Games(TM) titles, including Ms. Pac-Man, Spider-Man and more. Adults (and kids!) can experience the fun of NAMCO's most beloved 80's arcade games on their TV with Ms. Pac-Man. All of the TV Games are a controller and game system all in one! No set up is required. The controllers just plug right into a television. With Ms. Pac- Man, players experience a blast from the past when they play the five different arcade games: Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Xevious and Mappy. No game console required. Requires 4 AA batteries (not included). Ages 5 and up. Polly Pocket(TM) Relaxin' Resort(TM) Rock 'n Roller Coaster Hotel from Mattel Two fun-filled rides await at the Rock 'n Roller Coaster Hotel: a Ferris wheel and a cool roller coaster. Check-in at the front desk, then shop at the hotel's store, relax on the sundeck, or take a dip in the hot tub with this Polly Pocket playset. No batteries required. Ages 3 years and up. RC Ford F-350 from Fast Lane One of the world's most popular trucks gets miniaturized in a 1:6 scale full-function RC vehicle. This Toys "R" Us exclusive unit moves forward, reverse, left and right. The vehicle features an opening hood, trunk and doors, working headlights, realistic interior and engine. Vehicle even comes with a working AM/FM stereo. It's Ready-to-Run with a 9.6 volt rechargeable battery and charger. Ages 6 years and up. About Toys "R" Us Toys "R" Us is one of the leading specialty toy retailers in the world. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,200 stores including 680 toy stores in the U.S. and 602 international toy stores, including licensed and franchise stores as well as through its Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com/, http://www.imaginarium.com/ and http://www.sportsrus.com/. Babies "R" Us is the largest baby product specialty store chain in the world and a leader in the juvenile industry, and sells merchandise through 211 stores in the U.S. as well as on the Internet at http://www.babiesrus.com/. NOTES TO EDITORS: Images available upon request. DATASOURCE: Toys "R" Us CONTACT: Kelly Cullen, +1-646-366-8822, , or Kathleen Waugh, +1-646-366-8823, , both of Toys "R" Us Web site: http://www.toysrus.com/ http://www.imaginarium.com/ http://www.sportsrus.com/ http://www.babiesrus.com/

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